Normandy

Normandy is the part of France closest to the Channel Islands, and until 1204 the islands formed part of the Duchy of Normandy.

Normandy is today divided into two parts, Basse Normandie (Lower Normandy) and Haute Normandie (Upper Normandy), each of which is one of the French Régions, the largest administrative division of the country made up of a number of Départments.

Basse Normandie, which is the closer to the Channel Islands, is made up of the Départments of Manche, Calvados and Orne. The regional capital is Caen, the Préfecture (principal town) of Calvados.

The Départment of Manche forms a peninsular heading north into the English Channel which is known as the Cotentin. The Channel Islands are situated off the west coast of the Cotentin.

Links between Jersey and Normandy have always remained strong, despite the fact that the nearby French coast was the launching point for many an attack on the island in the centuries following 1204.

Twin towns

Eleven of Jersey's 12 parishes are twinned with towns in Normandy. The exception is St Clement, whose twin town is Cancale, in Brittany. Below are links to galleries of pictures of the Normandy twin towns.